Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Doncho (g, 3, Mo Town–Sassy Redhead, by Henny Hughes), an eye-catching winner in a pair of attempts going six furlongs at Fair Grounds this winter, is aiming to make his next start in the $400,000 Lafayette S. at Keeneland Apr. 5.
“We've got the Lafayette circled as his next spot opening day at Keeneland,” trainer Michelle Lovell said. “We'll see if he'll stretch out to seven furlongs. I think that he will.”
Gelded as a juvenile last September, Doncho lit up the tote board with a powerful, five-length tally in front-running fashion at 21-1 on debut Dec. 30. He earned his 'Rising Star' badge by 4 1/2 lengths–this time as the even-money favorite–with a press-and-pounce victory in an optional claimer Feb. 13. Both performances netted matching 94 Beyer Speed Figures.
“I think he could be anything,” Lovell said. “We've never really asked him for anything yet. Everything that he's done has been on his own.”
She continued, “He hasn't been a surprise because he's been a good horse, but it was a surprise that he went so fast, so easily, in his first race. To come back, I thought that he could win, but you never know, they're babies and they could make mistakes. But he's so professional. So far, everything has gone so well.”
As for the decision to geld Doncho as an unraced 2-year-old last year, Lovell added, “We just thought it was best for him physically and mentally at the time.”
Doncho brought $72,000 from Jose A. Lopez's JAL Racing following a :9 4/5 bullet breeze out of the GOP Racing Stable consignment at last year's OBS June sale. Bred in Kentucky by Susan Young, he was previously a $32,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by GGS Legal Racing. He RNA'd for $12,000 as a short yearling at Keeneland January.
The first 'Rising Star' for young Coolmore sire Mo Town, Doncho was produced by the unraced mare Sassy Redhead. This is the extended female family of GISWs Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), Mi Sueno (Pulpit) and Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again).
Members of the press haven't been the only ones ringing Lovell's phone to chat about Doncho.
“After his first race we got a ton of interest,” Lovell said. “Mr. Lopez thought about it. He definitely had some offers that would make you sit back and think for a bit. It took him a few days and he said, 'Nope, I'm keeping him.'”
Damon's Mound & Michelle Lovell following the 2022 Saratoga Special | Susie Raisher
She continued, “We're super excited about him. He's a young horse and is still developing and we're really proud of the way he behaves. He's a big bodied and very muscular horse and he's letting his front end catch up to his hind end the last couple of months. He's a lot of fun.”
Fellow Lovell-trained 'Rising Star' Damon's Mound (Girvin), meanwhile, is currently enjoying some “deserved downtime” at Apple Ridge Farm in Kentucky. The 2022 GII Saratoga Special S. winner and 2023 GII Gallant Bob S. winner was last seen finishing fourth in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26.
“We'll have him back at Churchill before too long,” Lovell said.
Wow! A star could be in the making as #6 DONCHO ($4) was impressive again in race 7 at the Fair Grounds and is now 2 for 2 in his young career. The 3yo son of Mo Town was ridden by @jaimetorresjcky and is trained by @MichelleLovell.
Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/1ro4nZYU8D
— TVG (@TVG) February 13, 2024
The post ‘He Could Be Anything’ – Unbeaten Doncho Targeting Keeneland’s Lafayette appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a half-brother to undefeated Arc hero Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}).
13.03 Cagnes-sur-Mer, Cond, €26,000, 3yo, 10f (AWT)
ARROW EAGLE (FR) (Gleneagles {Ire}) made an instant impression at this track last month and is turned out again at the venue that saw the launch of his illustrious half-brother Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) 12 months ago. Waltraut Spanner's homebred colt, who is also under the care of Jean-Claude Rouget, meets five rivals including the fellow course winner Shaloha (Ger) (Le Havre {Ire}), a Philippe Decouz-trained daughter of the G2 German 1000 Guineas third Shalona (Fr) (Soldier Hollow {GB}).
The post Next Step For Ace Impact’s Half-Brother appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
4th-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 2-24, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.08, ft, neck.
CORPORATE POWER (c, 3, Curlin–Road to Victory {GSW-USA, SW-Can, $248,336}, by Quality Road), featured in Steve Sherack's 'Second Chances' series following a useful debut fourth-place finish behind the promising duo of Speak Easy (Constitution) and Victory Avenue (Arrogate) after getting bumped at the break going seven furlongs in a very live maiden special weight going seven furlongs on the Pegasus World Cup undercard Jan. 27, delivered as the 6-5 favorite in thrilling fashion here.
Stretching out to 1 1/8 miles, the $925,000 KEESEP yearling broke in and brushed with Batten Down (Tapit), a son of champion Close Hatches (First Defence) who was a debut sixth in that same heat, leaving the stalls. Ridden along in fourth by Javier Castellano rounding the clubhouse turn, Corporate Power was encouraged to keep pace while in that same position as Batten Down showed the way through a half mile in :47.86.
Corporate Power loomed up with a nice move while three deep on the far turn, but Batten Down was going the much easier of the two and Paco Lopez let it out a notch as they turned for home. Batten Down looked well on his way in the stretch, but Corporate Power wasn't done yet despite racing greenly and attempting to lug in repeatedly.
Corporate Power and Sturdy (Mitole) both began to lift as Batten Down tired late. Corporate Power, much more focused racing in between horses now, seemed to want it the most of the trio and was able to eke out a neck victory over Batten Down in a blanket finish. It was another neck back to Sturdy in third.
Corporate Power's dam Road to Victory, a winner of her first three career starts at two, highlighted by a neck victory over subsequent two-time champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GII Golden Rod S., brought $1.45 million from breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings in foal to War Front at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Road to Victory produced a colt by Into Mischief in 2023 and a filly by Not This Time this year.
Sales history: $925,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $44,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam); B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III.
#5 CORPORATE POWER ($4.60) gets up between rivals to win race 4 at Gulfstream Park.
This is the first victory and second career start for the Shug McGaughey trainee, who was ridden by @jjcjockey for Courtlandt Farms. pic.twitter.com/FlUYGa7iVr
— TVG (@TVG) February 24, 2024
The post Curlin’s Corporate Power Game at Second Asking in Gulfstream Maiden Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
